Remembering to Practice Love

I last saw my good friend, Evelyn, on the second Sunday in October. On the second Friday in November, she made her transition from this world to the next. I’ve felt both relief and sadness for all of us, her friends, her family, the larger community where she served so willingly and joyfully. She considered herself one of the most fortunate people to be alive with work that was rewarding, a peaceful home in a very pretty place, and her own good buddy, Scout, her therapy Pomeranian.

Her death came on the heels of a chaotic week in politics. I like to think of myself as well-informed, but I’ve been obsessing over the news like an addict. Today I was finally able to practice some reason again as I re-read Pam Grout’s most excellent new book, Thank and Grow Rich. Pam is a student of A Course in Miracles as well as The Way of Mastery. Reading her book has helped to restore some sanity. And Evelyn’s mantra continues to run across my mind’s eye – “Choose Only Love.”

I read somewhere fairly recently that all circumstances are pushing us ever more toward Love. It’s the one thing we really haven’t tried on a large scale. And if I look at the world today, I find lots of inspiration to send love – to the war-torn areas of the world, to the stranded cows in New Zealand after the earthquake, to our national and world leaders who carry such grave responsibilities on their shoulders, to the grief-stricken people around the world, in my community, in my own home.

There is a wonderful book of short stories, compiled by Mark Andreas titled Sweet Fruit from the Bitter Tree. In each story, love triumphs over any situation, large or small – a prison riot in China; a despotic warlord overtaking a group of missionaries in Africa; two Chicago cops who break up domestic disputes by acting silly, and at least 10 others.

We must each do our part. As Peruvian shaman don Americo Yabar liked to remind his students, “All you can do is the best you can do today.” Love can and does heal everything. We just need to remember to practice it. So feel free to practice with joy and abandon.

Post navigation

SUBSCRIBE VIA EMAIL

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

NAME *

EMAIL *

An email was just sent to confirm your subscription. Please check your email and click confirm to activate your subscription. NOTE: If you do not see a confirmation email within a couple hours of subscribing, please check your spam folder!